Pension a taboo subject

These company bosses are far from being old hat

From Norbert Draskovits to Stefan Pierer and Johannes Artmayr: many company bosses in Upper Austria are not yet thinking about quitting despite (almost) reaching retirement age.(Bild: Markus Wenzel (4), FotoKerschi, RLB OÖ/Wakolbinger, Team 7, Hermann.Bio, Krone KREATIV)

Franz Gasselsberger turned 65 last Friday, but the bank manager from Upper Austria is not thinking about retirement. He is in good company, as a look at the executive floors of Austrian companies shows. Read on to find out which bosses are far from being old hat.

"I live by the principle: 'Rock 'n' roll for as long as I can'" - that's Stefan Pierer's (67) answer when asked if he's thinking about quitting. Only last year, the KTM boss expanded his company empire by taking over the German cable giant Leoni, a company with around 100,000 employees.

Oberbank boss Franz Gasselsberger (l.) has been 65 since Friday, Erich Haider (Linz AG) and KTM owner Stefan Pierer are both 67, Johannes Artmayr (r.) from Strasser Steine is 66.(Bild: FOTOKERSCHI, Markus Wenzel (3), Krone KREATIV)

Tireless, full of energy - that's not just Pierer, but also Franz Gasselsberger, who turned 65 last Friday. The Oberbank CEO still has a contract until May 2027, so he will not retire until he is 68. Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich CEO Heinrich Schaller will turn 65 in November, his contract runs until the end of 2025.

I really enjoy running, cycling and skiing. Once a year, I also do a week of therapeutic fasting - that's time for myself.

Georg Emprechtinger, Team-7-Eigentümer

While Linz AG boss Erich Haider's (67) vow of loyalty runs until September 2025, Norbert Draskovits will retire shortly before his 67th birthday. The contract of the Linz Airport boss, who is 64 years old, runs until the end of 2026.

Linz Airport CEO Nobert Draskovits (left), RLB-OÖ CEO Heinrich Schaller and Team 7 owner Georg Emprechtinger are each 64 years old, Hermann Neuburger (right) is already 71.(Bild: Hermann.Bio, Team 7, Markus Wenzel, RLB OÖ/Wakolbinger, Krone KREATIV)

It's over before 70
"I feel incredibly fit," emphasizes Strasser-Steine owner Johannes Artmayr, who "can imagine being operationally active for another two or three years". Before his 70th birthday, the managing director of the kitchen worktop manufacturer, who is 66 years old, wants to retire to the second row.

I'll be 72 this year, at least that's what my birth certificate says, but retirement is one of those things when you've worked with passion and pleasure all your life.

Hermann Neuburger, Lebensmittel-Pionier aus Ulrichsberg

Hermann Neuburger, head of the Sagen Sie Niemals liver cheese producer from Ulrichsberg, will be 72 this year. "At least that's what my birth certificate says." The food pioneer's fitness secret? "Regular running. I'm also really passionate about my job and put my heart into it. I've never seen my working life as a running time clock."

One week of therapeutic fasting once a year
Georg Emprechtinger realized a lifelong dream with the construction of Team-7-Welt in Ried/Innkreis. The Managing Director of the natural wood furniture manufacturer turns 65 in November, the generational change has begun and should be completed by 2026. Like Neuburger, Emprechtinger swears by running, but also treats himself to a week of therapeutic fasting every year: "In seclusion and peace, far away from constant accessibility and digital distractions."